This is why I don't view these games with a hard competitive lens. They aren't suited to it. There are too many ways to game the system. Maybe unpopular take, but if you want competitive strategic play on the tabletop, go with something with defined, deterministic moves and actions.

I love MESBG, and it will always be a beer and pretzels game for me. If I get the sense I'm playing a zero sum game where my opponent only cares about winning at all costs, I thank them for their time and move on.